How Montreal’s Irish Pubs Are Celebrating St.Patrick’s Day This Year | Eater Montreal

"At Montreal’s oldest Irish pub, Le Vieux Dublin, owner Johnny Asad described the past two years as devastating — in his 42 years of business, 2020 and 2021 are the only St. Patrick’s Days he’s missed — and closures cost a tremendous amount because of perishable food and connected kegs (he carries 28 lines of beer), losses he estimates at around five to six thousand dollars when kegs go bad. Because of a lack of staff he’s had to forgo the usual complimentary St. Patrick’s breakfast this year, but other traditions remain: all the Irish beer and whisky and live music from about 3 o’clock into the early morning (around 2–3 a.m.). Business has been slow during the daytime but evenings have been good, and he’s eager to welcome back the government and bank workers who make up much of the lunchtime clientele — above all, he’s grateful they’re alive." - Holly Tousignant